The Department of the Air Force, and its two military branches, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force, revealed a new Arctic strategy yesterday, and like everything else coming out of the Pentagon these days it‛s driven by the anti-Russia/anti-China geopolitics embedded in the National Security Strategy/National Defense Strategy documents. “Historically, the Arctic, like space, was characterized as a predominantly peaceful domain,” Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said yesterday during a panel discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council. “This is changing with expanded maritime access, newly discovered resources and competing sovereign interests.”
Russia, she said, has the largest permanent military presence in the Arctic — no other country matches its presence there. “Recent Russian investments in the Arctic include a network of offensive air assets and coastal missile systems,” she said. “The Arctic defines Russia. Almost 25% of Russia’s [gross domestic product] comes from … north of the Arctic Circle, … mostly from hydrocarbons.”
“Russia’s recent Arctic initiatives include refurbishing airfields and infrastructure, creating new bases, and developing an integrated network of air defense, coastal missile systems, and early warning radars to secure its northern approaches. Further, Russia seeks to regulate maritime traffic on the Northern Sea Route in ways that may exceed its authority permitted under international law,” the strategy document itself reports.
China is not an Arctic country but nonetheless, according to the Air Force, its interest in the region makes it a threat, too. “China is trying to normalize its presence in the Arctic to gain access to regional resources, which are said to include over 90 billion barrels of oil and an estimated trillion dollars’ worth of rare earth metals,” Barrett said. “In 2018, China linked its Arctic activities to its ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative. Many are concerned that China may repeat what some see as predatory economic behavior, to the detriment of the region.”
Barrett described four “strategic priorities” that make up the new strategy. These are increased vigilance “for both deterrence and defense in all domains"; projecting power through a combat-credible force—this includes the buildup of F-35s at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska; a focus on cooperation with allies in the region—most of the other Arctic powers are members of NATO or otherwise close to the U.S.; and, preparation for military operations in the Arctic region.
